Cyclic delay diversity in a wireless system

ABSTRACT

A system includes a first transmitter, a second transmitter, and a legacy receiver. The first transmitter transmits information via a first channel to the legacy receiver. The second transmitter transmits a time-shifted version of the information via a second channel to the legacy receiver. The legacy receiver combines the information received via the first channel and the time-shifted information received via the second channel to provide combined information. The legacy receiver processes the combined information as though it is received via a single channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/731,490, filed Oct. 31, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to wireless systems, and more specifically to techniques for providing diversity in a wireless system.

2. Background

Diversity is the use of multiple versions of a signal in a system. Diversity typically improves the performance of the system because another version of the signal is available if a first version encounters a problem. Multiple versions of the signal can be provided by hardware and/or software, for example. Digital signal processing (DSP) techniques are often employed to provide the multiple versions. Wireless communication systems in particular can employ and take advantage of various types of diversity. Some examples are temporal diversity, whereby the system utilizes different copies of the signal in time, and frequency diversity, whereby the system utilizes different copies of the signal in frequency. For a wireless communication system that employs multiple antennas, spatial diversity can also be utilized by the system, whereby different copies of the signal are present on each antenna.

Conventional wireless systems, such as those based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard (hereinafter referred to as “legacy wireless systems”), either are not designed to have spatial diversity or can only use spatial diversity in a limited manner. A legacy wireless system, for example, includes a single transmitter and a single receiver. The transmitter encodes data before transmitting the data, and the receiver decodes the encoded data for further processing. If the receiver has only a single antenna then it cannot benefit from spatial diversity. If it has multiple receive antennas, it can employ some suboptimal algorithm to choose the antenna having the highest receive power, e.g., in order to enhance the received signal strength. Similarly, if the transmitter has only one antenna it cannot use spatial diversity. If it has multiple transmit antennas it can employ some suboptimal algorithm that chooses one of the antennas based, e.g., on the result of previous receptions on that antenna

Some modern wireless systems include multiple transmitters to improve the transmission rate, the range, and/or the reliability of the wireless system. For instance, a proposed IEEE wireless local area network (WLAN) standard, IEEE 802.11n, allows a transmission rate of up to 130 Mbps in 20 MHz bandwidth by utilizing two transmitters. The proposed standard at least doubles the transmission rates achievable using other WLAN standards. For example, IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g each support a transmission rate of up to 54 Mbps.

Example wireless systems having multiple transmitters include multiple input, single output (MISO) systems and multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) systems. In a MISO system, multiple transmitters transmit data to a single receiver. In a MIMO system, multiple transmitters transmit data to multiple receivers.

In a conventional MISO or MIMO system, different transmitters transmit different data. If two or more transmitters in a conventional MISO or MIMO system transmit the same data, then the energy transmitted by each transmitter cancels the energy transmitted by the other transmitter(s) at locations that are based on the distance between the respective transmitters.

What is needed is a method, system, and/or computer program product that addresses one or more of the aforementioned shortcomings of conventional wireless systems having multiple transmitters.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method and system to provide or enhance diversity in a system. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention provides cyclic delay diversity in a wireless system, wherein a plurality of transmitters transmit information such that a legacy receiver is capable of processing the information received from the plurality of transmitters.

In an embodiment, a system includes a first transmitter, a second transmitter, and a legacy receiver. The first transmitter transmits first information via a first channel. The second transmitter transmits time-shifted first information via a second channel. The legacy receiver is capable of processing the first information and the time-shifted first information as though the first information and the time-shifted first information are received via a single channel. For instance, the legacy receiver can treat the first channel and the second channel as a combined, single channel.

According to an embodiment, the first transmitter transmits the first information and the second transmitter transmits the time-shifted first information in accordance with a standard, such as an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a standard, an IEEE 802.11b standard, an IEEE 802.11g standard, or an IEEE 802.11n standard.

In another embodiment, the legacy receiver determines/estimates the single channel based on second information received from the first transmitter and time-shifted second information received from the second transmitter. The first information can be a data portion of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame, and the second information can be a preamble portion of the OFDM frame. The legacy receiver may utilize an error minimization algorithm to determine the single channel.

In yet another embodiment, the second transmitter reduces the delay associated with the time-shifted first or second information until the legacy receiver is capable of determining/estimating the single channel. The second transmitter can transmit the time-shifted first or second using a predetermined maximum delay. If legacy receiver is not capable of determining/estimating the channel, then the second transmitter can reduce the delay and re-transmit the time-shifted first or second information using the reduced delay. The second transmitter can continue to reduce the delay and re-transmit the tine-shifted first or second information so long as the legacy receiver is not capable of determining/estimating the channel.

The delay associated with the time-shifted first or second information may be programmable. The system can include a memory to store the delay associated with the time-shifted first or second information.

Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art(s) to make and use the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system having multiple transmitters according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a frame having a preamble portion and a data portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates sub-carriers in the frequency domain corresponding to modulated samples of the preamble portion or the data portion shown in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the sub-carriers of FIG. 3 multiplied by respective channel coefficients according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates two sets of channel coefficients, each of which corresponds to a different channel, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the example system shown in FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates cyclic shifting of samples of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a frequency response corresponding to the cyclic shifting operation illustrated in FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of diversity in the time domain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a symbol delay exceeding an example threshold beyond which the legacy receiver shown in FIG. 1 will not receive the data correctly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart of a method of providing cyclic delay diversity according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart of a method of setting symbol delay according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This specification discloses one or more embodiments that incorporate the features of this invention. The embodiment(s) described, and references in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment(s) described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

1.0 Overview

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 having multiple transmitters according to an embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes first transmitter 110 a, second transmitter 110 b, a legacy receiver 120, and channels 130 a-b. First transmitter 110 a transmits information via channel 130 a to legacy receiver 120. Second transmitter 110 b transmits a time-delayed version of the information via channel 130 b to legacy receiver 120.

Legacy receiver 120 combines the information received via channel 110 a and the time-delayed information received via channel 110 b to provide combined information. Legacy receiver 120 processes the combined information as though it is received from a single channel.

In an embodiment, first transmitter 110 a encodes the information before transmitting the information to legacy receiver 120, and second transmitter 110 b encodes the time-delayed information before transmitting the time-delayed information to legacy receiver 120. Legacy receiver 120 decodes the information received from first transmitter 110 a and the time-delayed information received from second transmitter 110 b.

According to another embodiment, legacy receiver 120 decodes the information and the time-delayed information before combining the information and the time-delayed information to provide the combined information. In another embodiment, legacy receiver 120 combines the information and the time-delayed information before decoding the information and the time-delayed information.

System 100 can include a memory to store a delay that is based on legacy receiver 120. For instance, transmitter 110 b may predetermine an appropriate delay to be used with respect to legacy receiver 120. According to an embodiment, transmitter 110 b reads the delay from the memory and transmits the time-delayed information based on the delay.

Transmitter 110 a may include a first antenna, and transmitter 110 b may include a second antenna, as depicted in FIG. 1, though the scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect. System 100 may further include a tapped delay line to delay the information for transmission by transmitter 110 b.

According to an embodiment, channels 130 a-b represent paths through which information is transmitted by transmitters 110 a-b, respectively, to legacy receiver 120. Channels 130 a-b can be figurative or actual paths.

FIG. 6 illustrates example system 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, transmitters 110 a and 110 b include quadrature amplitude modulators (QAMs) 640 a and 640 b, respectively. FIG. 6 will be described with reference to transmitter 110 a, QAMs 640 a, and channel 130 a for simplicity, though persons skilled in the art(s) will recognize that the discussion is similarly applicable to transmitter 110 b, QAMs 640 b, and channel 130 b.

Referring to FIG. 6, QAMs 640 a modulate samples of information based on a clock signal generated by or received by respective transmitter 110 a. In FIG. 6, QAMs 640 a can be any type of modulator and need not necessarily be QAMs. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art(s) that samples of information can be modulated using any of a variety of modulators in system 100.

For a given time period (e.g., an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol time) QAMs 640 a simultaneously modulate a sample of information, with each of the QAMs 640 a operating at a different sub-carrier. QAMs 640 a thereby provide a plurality of modulated samples, based on the sample that is processed by each of QAMs 640 a. Transmitter 110 a transmits the modulated samples to legacy receiver 120.

In system 100, information is transmitted in frames. FIG. 2 illustrates a frame 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Frame 200 includes a preamble portion 210 and a data portion 210. Preamble portion 210 and data portion 220 each include multiple modulated samples P₀-P_(n) and D₀-D_(n), respectively. The number of modulated samples, n+1, is based on the number of QAMs in transmitter 110 a or 110 b that are transmitting information to legacy receiver 120. A modulated sample is transmitted by each QAM of the respective transmitter 110 a or 110 b. The number of modulated samples in preamble portion 210 or data portion 220 equals the number of QAMs.

Legacy receiver 120 uses preamble portion 210 to determine/estimate a channel via which frame 200 is received. The channel can be determined using a time domain technique, a frequency domain technique, any other suitable technique that allows for determination or estimation of the channel, or any combination thereof. According to an embodiment, an error minimization algorithm is employed to improve the channel estimation error performance of a technique.

Once legacy receiver 120 determines/estimates the channel, legacy receiver 120 is able to process data portion 220 of frame 200. Thus, legacy receiver 120 processes preamble portion 210 before processing data portion 220.

2.0 Transmission Via a Single Channel

FIGS. 3 and 4 provide a frequency domain representation of samples, such as modulated preamble samples P₀-P_(n), of preamble portion 210 or modulated data samples D₀-D_(n) of data portion 220 shown in FIG. 2 according to embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 4 are described with respect to a single channel for simplicity. This discussion is expanded in section 3.0 below to show the frequency domain relationship between multiple channels.

FIG. 3 illustrates sub-carriers f₀-f_(n) in the frequency domain corresponding to modulated preamble samples P₀-P_(n) of preamble portion 210 or modulated data samples D₀-D_(n) of data portion 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, each sub-carrier f₀-f_(n) carries one respective modulated sample P₀-P_(n) or D₀-D_(n) of information. Each sub-carrier f₀-f_(n) represents a complex number whose value depends on the modulated data, based on a standard associated with frame 200. The standard may be a cellular, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless personal area network (WPAN), or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, or any other wireless standard.

The combination of sub-carriers f₀-f_(n) corresponding to modulated samples P₀-P_(n) or D₀-D_(n) is referred to as frequency content 300 of preamble portion 210 or data portion 220, respectively. Frequency content 300 of preamble portion 210 is said to be semi-random, because each standard specifies certain sub-carriers of preamble portion 210 to be negative to more closely resemble a random pattern. For instance, sub-carriers f₁, and f₂ are shown to be negative in FIG. 3 for illustrative purposes. The inclusion of negative sub-carriers reduces the number and/or magnitude of peaks in the time domain signal corresponding to modulated samples P₀-P_(n).

Because preamble portion 210 is used for channel estimation, setting the magnitude of f₀-f_(n) to be plus or minus one helps to reduce the complexity of the channel estimator at the receiver. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, legacy receiver 120 determines/estimates the channel via which modulated samples P₀-P_(n) or D₀-D_(n) are received based on the combination of positive and negative ones representing frequency content 300 of preamble portion 210.

Transmitters 110 a-b and legacy receiver 120 usually are not optimized for the current conditions of a channel, because the channel changes with time.

Some modulated samples P₀-P_(n) or D₀-D_(n) may have a greater magnitude than others. As shown in FIG. 4, each sub-carrier f₀-f_(n), is multiplied by a respective channel coefficient h₀-h_(n) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The magnitudes of channel coefficients h₀-h_(n) shown in FIG. 4 are provided for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The magnitudes of channel coefficients h₀-h_(n) depend on characteristics of the channel. According to an embodiment, legacy receiver 120 performs a transform, such as a fast Fourier transform (FFT) on modulated samples P₀-P_(n) or D₀-D_(n) to provide sub-carriers f₀-f_(n) that are multiplied by respective channel coefficients, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Because channel coefficients h₀-h_(n) are completely random, some of the channel coefficients h₀-h_(n) are small (e.g., h₁) as compared to the other channel coefficients h₀-h_(n). When a sub-carrier f₀-f_(n) having a small channel coefficient h₀-h_(n) is received by legacy receiver 120, the noise in system 100 can interfere and/or prevent reception of the sub-carrier f₀-f_(n). If legacy receiver 120 cannot adequately process a sub-carrier f₀-f_(n), an error occurs on the sub-carrier.

Referring to FIG. 4, each sub-carrier f₀-f_(n) has only one channel coefficient h₀-h_(n) because frame 200 is transmitted via a single channel. If the channel is small for a sub-carrier f₀-f_(n), then frame 200 may be lost, assuming that error correcting code is not capable of recovering frame 200.

3.0 Transmission Via Multiple Channels

FIG. 5 illustrates two sets of channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and h² ₀-h² _(n), each of which corresponds to a different channel, according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and h² ₀-h² _(n) can correspond to channels 130 a and 130 b, respectively, in FIG. 1. Each channel operates independently from the other channel(s). Thus, channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) are independent of channel coefficients h² ₀-h² ^(n). Corresponding channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and h² ₀-h² _(n) are likely to be different at any given time. If a channel coefficient associated with one of the channels is relatively small, the channel coefficient associated with the other channel may be larger. If these two channel coefficients are combined, then the frame is less likely to be lost. Legacy receiver 120 combines channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and h² ₀-h² _(n) to provide combined channel coefficients for processing.

If the same information is transmitted via multiple channels of a system, then lobes are created, such that channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and/or h² ₀-h² _(n) are equal to zero at points in space that depend on the configuration of the system. The system can utilize cyclic delay diversity to mitigate this effect.

Cyclic delay diversity is achieved by transmitting multiple versions of the same information using multiple transmitters, such as transmitters 110 a-b in FIG. 1. At least one version of the information is cyclically shifted with respect to another version.

Referring to FIG. 7, samples s₀-s_(n) of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol are cyclically shifted according to an embodiment of the present invention. Samples s₀-s_(n) can be samples P₀-P_(n) of preamble portion 210 or samples D₀-D_(n) of data portion 220 of FIG. 2, to provide some examples. Transmitter 110 a transmits a first version of the OFDM symbol in accordance with a function x(t). Transmitter 110 b transmits a second version of the OFDM symbol in accordance with a function x(t+τ). The second version includes the same samples s₀-s_(n) as the first version, though the second version is time-shifted with respect to the first version. The time shift is represented by the variable, τ, and is illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each sample of x(t+τ) is shifted in time by a number of samples L that corresponds to the time delay, τ. The time delay can be represented by the following equation: τ=L·dt   (Equation 1)

where dt is the time necessary for transmitter 110 a or 110 b to transmit one sample.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, seven samples s₀-s_(n) are transmitted by each transmitter 110 a-b, and samples s₀-s_(n) transmitted by transmitter 110 b are shifted by three samples in the time domain with respect to samples s₀-s_(n) transmitted by transmitter 110 a. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 7, n=6 and L=3. In this embodiment, the time delay, τ, is equivalent to the time necessary for transmitter 110 a or 110 b to transmit three samples.

As shown in FIG. 7, the shifting operation can be performed such that samples s₀-s_(n) of the OFDM symbol are rotated in a time frame of the OFDM symbol on a first-in-first-out basis. In other words, as samples of the OFDM symbol are shifted beyond the time frame of the OFDM symbol, those samples are re-directed to the beginning of the time frame. As a sample is shifted from the end of the time frame to the beginning of the time frame, all other samples in the time frame are shifted a time equivalent to dt.

According to an embodiment, the time delay, τ, is programmable. For instance, the time delay, τ, can be based on the ability of legacy receiver 120 to process a signal that includes time shifted samples.

FIG. 8 illustrates a frequency response 800 corresponding to the cyclic shifting operation illustrated in FIG. 7 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cyclic shifting operation can be represented by the following Fourier transform: S _(m−L) →S _(m) ·e ^(−jLmΔf)  (Equation 2)

where m=0, . . . , n. The variable n represents one less than the total number of channel coefficients h₀-h_(n) associated with the cyclic shifting operation. In FIG. 8, the cyclic shifting operation is represented by the Fourier transform for illustrative purposes only. Persons skilled in the relevant art(s) will recognize that the cyclic shifting operation may be performed using any of a variety of transforms.

As shown in Equation 2, a time shift in the time domain translates to a phase shift in the frequency domain. Thus, legacy receiver 120 can process samples s₀-s_(n) that have been cyclically shifted by using a time domain technique, a frequency domain technique, or a combination thereof.

Referring to frequency response 800 in FIG. 8, legacy receiver 120 combines corresponding channel coefficients h¹ ₀-h¹ _(n) and h² ₀-h² _(n)e^(−jnLΔf) to provide combined channel coefficients h*₀-h*_(n). With further reference to frame 200 in FIG. 2, legacy receiver 120 combines channel coefficients corresponding to preamble samples P₀-P_(n) to determine the channel via which preamble samples P₀-P_(n) are received. However, legacy receiver 120 does not receive preamble samples P₀-P_(n) via a single channel. Instead, legacy receiver 120 receives a first version of preamble samples P₀-P_(n) via channel 130 a and a time-shifted version of preamble samples P₀-P_(n) via channel 130 b. Legacy receiver 120 estimates the channel to be a combination of channels 130 a-b, based on combined channel coefficients h*₀-h*_(n). Thus, legacy receiver estimates the channel as if the first version of preamble samples P₀-P_(n) and the time-shifted version of preamble samples P₀-P_(n) are received via a single channel.

After estimating the channel based on the combined channel coefficients corresponding to preamble samples P₀-P_(n), legacy receiver 120 combines channel coefficients of a first version of data samples D₀-D_(n) received via channel 110 a and a time-shifted version of data samples D₀-D_(n) received via channel 110 b. Legacy receiver 120 is thereby capable of processing the first version and time-shifted version of data samples D₀-D_(n) as though they are received via the single channel estimated by legacy receiver 120.

A channel coefficient of a data sample transmitted by transmitter 110 a can be represented as h¹ _(m). As shown in Equation 2, a channel coefficient of a corresponding time shifted data sample transmitted by transmitter 110 b can be represented as h² _(m)·e^(−jLmΔf), where Δf is the phase shift in the frequency domain that corresponds to the time shift in the time domain. The combined channel coefficient h*_(m) for each data sample D₀-D_(n) can be represented by the following equation: h* _(m) =h ¹ _(m) +h ² _(m) ·e ^(−jLmΔf)  (Equation 3)

where m represents the data sample D₀-D_(n) with which the combined channel coefficient is associated. The mathematical relationship between data samples D₀-D_(n) received from transmitters 110 a and 110 b is the same as the mathematical relationship between preamble samples P₀-P_(n) received from transmitters 110 a and 110 b. Legacy receiver 120 is therefore capable of decoding data samples D₀-D_(n) received from transmitters 110 a and 110 b based on the estimated channel.

The composite signal h*·S received by legacy receiver 120 can be represented as follows: $\begin{matrix} {{h^{*} \cdot S} = {{\sum\limits_{m = 0}^{n}{h_{m}^{*} \cdot S_{m}}} = {\sum\limits_{m = 0}^{n}{\left\lbrack {h_{m}^{1} + {h_{m}^{2} \cdot {\mathbb{e}}^{{- j}\quad L\quad m\quad\Delta\quad f}}} \right\rbrack \cdot S_{m}}}}} & \left( {{Equation}\quad 4} \right) \end{matrix}$

According to an embodiment, if one of h¹ _(m) or h² _(m) is small, the other of h¹ _(m) or h² _(m) is likely to be large enough such that legacy receiver 120 can accurately process the combined channel coefficient h*_(m).

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of diversity in the time domain according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows three plots. The first plot, x(t), represents a symbol in the time domain. The second plot, x(t+τ), represents the symbol time-shifted by a period of time, τ. The third plot, x*(t), represents the combination of the symbol, x(t), and the time-shifted symbol, x(t+τ).

Referring to FIG. 9, the transmitter 110 a transmits signal x(t) having peak A and peak B. Transmitter 110 b transmits signal x(t+τ) having peak A′ and peak B′ corresponding to respective peaks A and B of signal x(t). Legacy receiver 120 combines signals x(t) and x(t+τ) to provide the combined signal x*(t), which can be represented by the following equation: x*(t)=x(t)+x(t+τ)  (Equation 5)

In FIG. 9, the combined signal x*(t) includes peaks A, B, A′, and B′. Thus, the combined signal has greater diversity than signal x(t) or signal x(t+τ) alone.

With respect to frequency domain channel determination/estimation techniques, the channel estimation capabilities of legacy receiver 120 are independent of the symbol delay L. However, legacy receiver 120 may not be capable of determining/estimating the channel using a time domain technique if the symbol delay L exceeds a threshold associated with legacy receiver 120. To illustrate this point, FIG. 10 shows a symbol delay exceeding an example threshold of legacy receiver 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 10, legacy receiver 120 has a threshold of 100 ns for illustrative purposes. Thus, legacy receiver 120 can accurately estimate the channel using a time domain technique, so long as the channel does not exceed 100 ns. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment of FIG. 10. Different receivers can have different capabilities, and legacy receiver 120 can have any suitable threshold.

In the first plot of FIG. 10, legacy receiver 120 is capable of accurately estimating the channel, because the channel does not exceed 100 ns. However, in the second plot of FIG. 10, the channel is expanded using a time domain channel determination technique. Legacy receiver 120 is not capable of estimating the expanded channel in the second plot because the expanded channel exceeds 100 ns. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the delay employed by the time domain channel determination technique expands the channel beyond the capabilities of the receiver.

According to an embodiment, the symbol delay L that is applied to a signal transmitted by transmitter 110 b is variable. In another embodiment, the symbol delay L is determined on a receiver-by-receiver basis. The symbol delay L can be determined based on an algorithm using a high layer of transmitter 110 b, such as the MAC layer.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of a method of providing cyclic delay diversity according to an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by the flowchart 1100. Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Flowchart 1100 will be described with continued reference to example system 100 described above in reference to FIG. 1. The invention, however, is not limited to this embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 11, transmitter 110 a transmits first data via first channel 130 a at block 1110. Transmitter 110 b transmits time-shifted first data via second channel 130 b at block 1120. Legacy receiver 120 processes the first data and the time-shifted first data at block 1130 as though the first data and the time-shifted first data are received via a single channel. First data can be a frame, a data portion of a frame, a preamble portion of a frame, a symbol (e.g., an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbol), or any other suitable grouping of information.

According to an embodiment, a time delay associated with the time-shifted first data is programmable. For example, transmitter 110 b can determine or select the time delay based on a model number or a predetermined threshold associated with legacy receiver 120. In another example, transmitter 110 b iteratively sets the time delay until legacy receiver 120 indicates proper receipt of information having the time delay.

In an embodiment, legacy receiver 120 determines the single channel based on second data received via channel 110 a and second time-shifted data received via channel 110 b. For example, the first data can be a data portion of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame, and the second data can be a preamble portion of the OFDM frame.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flowchart of a method of setting symbol delay according to an embodiment of the present invention. The invention, however, is not limited to the description provided by the flowchart 1200.

Rather, it will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) from the teachings provided herein that other functional flows are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Flowchart 1200 will be described with continued reference to example system 100 described above in reference to FIG. 1. The invention, however, is not limited to this embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 12, transmitter 110 b transmits a symbol using a predetermined maximum symbol delay, L_(max), at block 1210. If legacy receiver 120 correctly receives the symbol (i.e., correctly determines/estimates the channel via which the symbol is transmitted), as determined at decision block 1220, then the data portion of the frame will also be received without error, in the absence of other impairments. Transmitter 110 b is notified of the correct data reception, for example via a positive acknowledgement, and the flow ends. If legacy receiver 120 does not correctly receive the symbol (i.e., does not correctly determine/estimate the channel), then the data portion of the frame is received in error. Transmitter 110 b is notified of the error, for example via the absence of a positive acknowledgement, and reduces the symbol delay at block 1230. Transmitter 110 b re-transmits the symbol using the reduced symbol delay at block 1240. Control returns to decision block 1220, in which a determination is made as to whether legacy receiver 120 correctly receives the symbol, which in the absence of other impairments is equivalent to estimating the channel correctly. Transmitter 110 b continues to reduce the symbol delay at block 1230 and re-transmit the symbol using the reduced symbol delay at block 1240 until legacy receiver 120 correctly receives the symbol, as determined at decision block 1220. According to an embodiment, transmitter 110 b may reduce the symbol delay at a MAC layer of transmitter 110 b. For example, the MAC layer may control the number of re-transmissions.

Utilizing cyclic delay diversity provides many benefits, as compared to conventional wireless systems. For example, cyclic delay diversity can reduce or eliminate the cancellation of energy (i.e., nulls) often encountered when transmitting the same data from multiple transmitters.

4.0 Other Embodiments

FIGS. 1-12 are conceptual illustrations allowing an easy explanation of cyclic delay diversity. These figures and corresponding exemplary embodiments are described above with reference to a system that includes two transmitters for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It will be recognized by persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that the techniques described herein are applicable to systems having any number of transmitters (e.g., three, four, five, etc.). For instance, a receiver may be configured to process data received via any number of channels from respective transmitters as though the data is received via a single channel.

It will be further recognized that embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using hardware, firmware, software, or any combination thereof. In such an embodiment, the various components and steps are implemented using hardware, firmware, and/or software to perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the same piece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one or more of the illustrated blocks (i.e., components or steps).

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as a removable storage unit, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive, and signals (i.e., electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other types of signals capable of being received by a communications interface). These computer program products are means for providing software to a computer system. The invention, in an embodiment, is directed to such computer program products.

In an embodiment where aspects of the present invention are implemented in software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system using a removable storage drive, hard drive, or communications interface. The control logic (software), when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the functions of the invention as described herein.

In another embodiment, aspects of the present invention are implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s).

In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

Any of a variety of transmit modes may benefit from cyclic delay diversity, including those that need to use only one transmit chain. Some exemplary transmit modes include, but are not limited to, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a standard, an IEEE 802.11b standard, an IEEE 802.11g standard, and an IEEE 802.11n standard.

5.0 Conclusion

Example embodiments of the methods, systems, and components of the present invention have been described herein. As noted elsewhere, these example embodiments have been described for illustrative purposes only, and are not limiting. Other embodiments are possible and are covered by the invention. Such other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A system comprising: a first transmitter to transmit first data via a first channel; a second transmitter to transmit time-shifted first data via a second channel; and a legacy receiver to receive the first data and the time-shifted first data; wherein the legacy receiver is capable of processing the first data and the time-shifted first data as though the first data and the time-shifted first data are received via a single channel.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first transmitter transmits the first data and the second transmitter transmits the time-shifted first data in accordance with at least one of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a standard, an IEEE 802.11b standard, an IEEE 802.11g standard, and an IEEE 802.11n standard.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein a time delay associated with the time-shifted first data is programmable.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the legacy receiver determines the single channel based on second data received from the first transmitter and time-shifted second data received from the second transmitter.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first data is a data portion of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame, and wherein the second data is a preamble portion of the OFDM frame.
 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the legacy receiver utilizes an error minimization algorithm to determine the single channel.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the second transmitter reduces a delay associated with the time-shifted second data until the legacy receiver is capable of determining the single channel.
 8. The system of claim 7, comprising a memory to store the delay associated with the time-shifted second data.
 9. A method comprising: transmitting first data via a first channel; transmitting time-shifted first data via a second channel; and processing the first data and the time-shifted first data by a legacy receiver as though the first data and the time-shifted first data are received via a single channel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the first data and transmitting the time-shifted first data are performed in accordance with at least one of an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a standard, an IEEE 802.11b standard, and an IEEE 802.11g standard.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein a time delay associated with the time-shifted first data is programmable.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining the single channel based on second data received via the first channel and time-shifted second data received via the second channel.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first data is a data portion of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) frame, and wherein the second data is a preamble portion of the OFDM frame.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the single channel includes performing an error minimization algorithm.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising reducing a delay associated with the time-shifted second data until the legacy receiver is capable of determining the single channel.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing the delay associated with the time-shifted second data.
 17. A system comprising: means for providing first data via a first channel; means for providing time-shifted first data via a second channel; and a legacy receiver to receive the first data and the time-shifted first data; wherein the legacy receiver is capable of processing the first data and the time-shifted first data as though the first data and the time-shifted first data are received via a single channel.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the time-shifted first data includes an antenna.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the time-shifted first data includes an equalizer.
 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for providing the time-shifted first data includes at least one of software and firmware. 